Barber Claude Ohlinger, left, owner of Claude's Barber Shop, Leesport, with customer Ronald Walls of Bern Township. Walls was Ohlinger's last customer on his first day of work 50 years ago.

Fifty years ago, barbershops were an important fixture in small-town America.

Today, many traditional barbershops have closed or changed to keep up with trendy salons.

But not Claude's Barber Shop in Leesport. It's pretty much the same business it was in 1964.

On Wednesday, Claude Ohlinger, 77, a resident at Phoebe Berks Village, Wernersville, celebrated his 50th anniversary at what became Claude's Barber Shop.

"I always need to be doing something, so I am not planning to retire just yet," Ohlinger said.

On Jan. 15, 1964, Ohlinger's last customer of the day was Ron Walls, Leesport.

Today, at 76, Walls is still a customer.

"I always like to support local businesses and I always have a standing appointment," Walls joked, because there are no appointments at the barbershop.

"I always liked coming here; there was always a lot of friendly kidding," Walls said. "We all enjoyed getting to know Claude. He has always been very friendly."

Ohlinger didn't buy the barbershop until 1967, after he had worked for the previous owner, Ray Wolfe.

He considers himself lucky to be open after five decades because he has seen plenty of other barbershops close.

"Many of those barbers passed away and didn't have anyone to take over their shops," he said.

Ohlinger has a plan for succession. Three years ago, one of his loyal customers, Steve Spotts, 53, of Centre Township, told him he was thinking of going to barber school.

Ohlinger liked the idea and told Spotts he could take over for him someday.

Spotts was a claims investigator, working in both Berks and Schuylkill counties for 25 years.

"In 2008, when people started getting laid off, I just decided that I was done with corporate America," Spotts said. "I started thinking about what else I could do and told Claude I was thinking about being a barber."

Spotts has worked for Ohlinger for three years and is poised to purchase the barbershop whenever Ohlinger goes into retirement.

Ohlinger said if it weren't for Spotts, he would have lost the barbershop last year when he had back surgery.

"I like the business itself," Spotts said. "It's great talking to customers; this is a place where everyone gets to know your name. It's like the old TV show 'Cheers.' "

Sally Derstine, managing director of Delaware Valley Family Business Center, Telford, Bucks County, said Ohlinger's situation is unique.

"He is very fortunate to have someone who he could mentor perhaps better than he could his own children, if he had any of his own," Derstine said. "Often someone who is very entrepreneurial has a tough time mentoring their own children."

As a result, Derstine said only 30 percent of small businesses make it to the second generation and only 12 percent make it to the third generation.

Ohlinger is married, but does not have any children.

Janet Thomas, president of the Pennsylvania Barber & Cosmetology Association, said it is becoming rare to find the old traditional barbershops.

"There are fewer of those shops because many of the old traditional barbers have passed away," Thomas said. "You don't find many people coming out of barber school looking to be a traditional barber; most are now into styling and more fashionable work."

Spotts said the barbershop is often attractive for new customers who have grown tired of paying more than $20 for a haircut at a salon.

"I'd always have to be careful about increasing the price because someone would always complain about that," Ohlinger said.

Spotts added: "People like an old-school barbershop. It's something everyone is comfortable with. It's no fancy salon; this is a men's barbershop."